AIPAC was better-funded, and traditionally better-connected amongst America’s foreign policy elite, the pro-JCPOA forces were capable of depending on both traditional counter-lobbying as well as mass-level civil societal mobilization that appears to have made a concrete difference in terms of mitigating AIPAC’s otherwise tremendous influence. With these realities in mind, the interviews conducted above point to a context in which pro-JCPOA forces were effective in terms of directly lobbying the Congress specifically because they were supported by synchronous and concomitant mobilization within American civil society.
Grassroots Lobbying and the JCPOA With the above in mind, it is critical to note that civil society’s involvement in the passage of the JCPOA was not solely restricted to elite interest groups. Rather, grassroots lobbying and activism also played a prominent role in terms of both supporting and opposing the agreement. From calling Congressional representatives to holding public sensitization campaigns, grassroots efforts (NIAC, FCNL), often aided by grasstopcs organizers like Ploughshares or J Street, were capable of reaching large numbers of citizens, and of demonstrating to elected officials that the majority of public opinion was indeed in favor of the deal. With …show more content…
As discussed above, well-funded anti-JCPOA groups like AIPAC engaged in massive ad-buys that were often oriented towards misinforming the public regarding the nature of the deal. With this in mind, and as described below, pro-deal groups emphatically sought to provide accurate and simplified information regarding the deal, its likely consequences for America and the Middle-East as well as the stability of the international system more broadly
Grassroots Lobbying and the JCPOA With the above in mind, it is critical to note that civil society’s involvement in the passage of the JCPOA was not solely restricted to elite interest groups. Rather, grassroots lobbying and activism also played a prominent role in terms of both supporting and opposing the agreement. From calling Congressional representatives to holding public sensitization campaigns, grassroots efforts (NIAC, FCNL), often aided by grasstopcs organizers like Ploughshares or J Street, were capable of reaching large numbers of citizens, and of demonstrating to elected officials that the majority of public opinion was indeed in favor of the deal. With …show more content…
As discussed above, well-funded anti-JCPOA groups like AIPAC engaged in massive ad-buys that were often oriented towards misinforming the public regarding the nature of the deal. With this in mind, and as described below, pro-deal groups emphatically sought to provide accurate and simplified information regarding the deal, its likely consequences for America and the Middle-East as well as the stability of the international system more broadly